Minke whales are the smallest baleen whales and are still hunted commercially by Norway and Japan, raising serious animal welfare concerns about slaughter methods.
Commercial whaling causes acute and prolonged suffering. Animals that survive the initial harpoon strike may experience severe pain and distress for many minutes. Even 'successful' hunts involve a non-trivial proportion of animals that require a second shot. The Whaling Commission's own welfare analysis has concluded that commercial whaling cannot be conducted humanely. Scientific whaling justifications remain disputed.